Thanks for these great reminders. Another favorite of mine: wash your sheets/refresh your bedding, get in bed early and get an excellent night of sleep.
I also am feeling dsyregulated lately. Yesterday I stayed away from the news and read your newest book Life Styled because it makes me feel good! I can never get enough of Chrissy Hunters old apartment! I’ve also committed to buying books from the bookstore and avoiding Amazon as much as possible. Thank you for the reminder 💙
My grounding morning ritual is to take my coffee and cat outside to the porch for a few minutes and say my gratitudes aloud, even on busy school/work mornings. And yesterday I picked up beach trash for MLK Day. I think you mentioned picking up trash in your book — even a few minutes makes a difference in environment and mindset. Peace to all readers!
I live in the blue city of Washington, DC. You can only imagine the pain this week. To avoid it, I left on the 19th for a writing retreat in a blue state, in southern mountains, civil war home, with big sky and stately bare trees. I brought travel candles from Cultiverri, organic produce, grains and lentils including Forbidden rice, a blend of fragrant caffeinated and decaf coffee, and Talenti mango and raspberry sorbets. My computer is filled with classical music. Yesterday I listened to cello concertos by Anastasia Kobekina while the sun streamed in my window deluding me into thinking that it's really not 6 degrees fahrenheit outside. And the books! Currently reading "When Women Were Birds: Fifty-Four Variations on Voice," by Terry Tempest Williams. Brilliant.
Yes, taking care of me while thinking about friends, so sending each a card with a quote from Audre Lorde given me for Christmas. We all need something literary and powerful in our mailboxes this week. Before leaving I sent hand warmers and wool socks to a friend who tends to an unhoused woman living near his artist studio. She's lived on the streets for more than a decade. It's cold here in the east.
Favorite way to recharge: I go to bed early on Friday night and allow myself to sleep in. Then I have my favorite breakfast: POM, fresh lime, and seltzer with lots of ice. Vanilla yogurt with unbelievable amount of berries (all kinds) and a good cup of coffee. Then with or without music I sit still, breathe and savor each taste as well as the luxurious slow pace. Can’t do it every weekend but I love it when I can.
hi shira - absolutely love your newsletter as a new-ish subscriber! just wanted to let you know that your heading graphics (not sure the right name — “the mini edit”, “the quick links”) are pretty tough to read if your device is in dark mode. perhaps a more pigmented color instead of black would help? hope this comes off as helpful versus a nitpick - that is the intention!
So happy to hear you are enjoying the newsletter! Not sure how to adjust those as they are custom graphics but hopefully everything is comes through for you! x
My device is in dark mode and the links are in white. Therefore I’m not having any issues in email or Substack app. Curious how you are reading the newsletter, as that does sound frustrating.
I’ll add a great one for parents of younger kids..
Play a round or two of a hilarious card game with your kids. (We love Kids Against Maturity, New Phone Who Dis family edition, and What Do You Meme family edition.) I always feel better after 15 minutes of cracking up with my kids.
I agree with these 100%. There is something magical about getting out of your own head by giving time/love/gifts to someone else - just because. It doesn’t make any sense, but it works every time.
I teach chair yoga at Senior Retirement Homes. And a few regular classes. I am so thankful for a class to brighten my mood…( or ground me) as I do my best to uplift them. Grounding is also dropping everything but the absolute necessity - pulling in and watching a show or reading. I think when I’m totally past the edge and seriously need stillness - it’s reading. And a hot drink and something tasty daily.
Thank you for this, feeling the need to step back too & recenter. 🤍 taking time out with water/l fresh lemon or tea and reading British Harper’s Bazaar & rereading Joie by Ajiri Aki. @madamedelamaison / imagining life in Paris / inspired.
Thanks for these great reminders. Another favorite of mine: wash your sheets/refresh your bedding, get in bed early and get an excellent night of sleep.
Love that idea!
I also am feeling dsyregulated lately. Yesterday I stayed away from the news and read your newest book Life Styled because it makes me feel good! I can never get enough of Chrissy Hunters old apartment! I’ve also committed to buying books from the bookstore and avoiding Amazon as much as possible. Thank you for the reminder 💙
My grounding morning ritual is to take my coffee and cat outside to the porch for a few minutes and say my gratitudes aloud, even on busy school/work mornings. And yesterday I picked up beach trash for MLK Day. I think you mentioned picking up trash in your book — even a few minutes makes a difference in environment and mindset. Peace to all readers!
Lovely! x
Oh Shira!!! Thank you for this. And thank you all for the comments.
It is 10 degrees this morning in Manhattan. We are sad, and yet the snow is so beautiful and the blue sky tremendous yesterday.
I could listen to you everyday.
Some book recommendations:
Enchantment and Wintering by Katherine May
Ceremony by Brianna Wiest
I’m rereading Wintering this winter and it has felt so supportive. 🥰
"Wintering" is back on the NYT bestseller list after 4 years of publication.
WOW!
I live in the blue city of Washington, DC. You can only imagine the pain this week. To avoid it, I left on the 19th for a writing retreat in a blue state, in southern mountains, civil war home, with big sky and stately bare trees. I brought travel candles from Cultiverri, organic produce, grains and lentils including Forbidden rice, a blend of fragrant caffeinated and decaf coffee, and Talenti mango and raspberry sorbets. My computer is filled with classical music. Yesterday I listened to cello concertos by Anastasia Kobekina while the sun streamed in my window deluding me into thinking that it's really not 6 degrees fahrenheit outside. And the books! Currently reading "When Women Were Birds: Fifty-Four Variations on Voice," by Terry Tempest Williams. Brilliant.
Yes, taking care of me while thinking about friends, so sending each a card with a quote from Audre Lorde given me for Christmas. We all need something literary and powerful in our mailboxes this week. Before leaving I sent hand warmers and wool socks to a friend who tends to an unhoused woman living near his artist studio. She's lived on the streets for more than a decade. It's cold here in the east.
Sounds like a lovely way to take care of yourself!
Sounds really beautiful richly nourishing and thoughtful. I love the idea of the cards too.💙
Favorite way to recharge: I go to bed early on Friday night and allow myself to sleep in. Then I have my favorite breakfast: POM, fresh lime, and seltzer with lots of ice. Vanilla yogurt with unbelievable amount of berries (all kinds) and a good cup of coffee. Then with or without music I sit still, breathe and savor each taste as well as the luxurious slow pace. Can’t do it every weekend but I love it when I can.
This sounds like pure magic. Definitely going to try this.
Sounds heavenly.
What a recipe for success!
I love to visit my local Barnes and Noble and get lost in the literature, drink in hand. I usually spend too much but consider it money well-spent.
I also organize and, according to my husband, “move stuff around” when I need to get out of my head
hi shira - absolutely love your newsletter as a new-ish subscriber! just wanted to let you know that your heading graphics (not sure the right name — “the mini edit”, “the quick links”) are pretty tough to read if your device is in dark mode. perhaps a more pigmented color instead of black would help? hope this comes off as helpful versus a nitpick - that is the intention!
So happy to hear you are enjoying the newsletter! Not sure how to adjust those as they are custom graphics but hopefully everything is comes through for you! x
My device is in dark mode and the links are in white. Therefore I’m not having any issues in email or Substack app. Curious how you are reading the newsletter, as that does sound frustrating.
the links are great - it’s actually the image headers above them, e.g. the graphic that says “the quick links”
Love all these!
I’ll add a great one for parents of younger kids..
Play a round or two of a hilarious card game with your kids. (We love Kids Against Maturity, New Phone Who Dis family edition, and What Do You Meme family edition.) I always feel better after 15 minutes of cracking up with my kids.
My kiddos are elementary/middle school aged and this sounds like a great suggestion thank you!
Great suggestion! x
A swim in the ocean. Salt water heals everything.
Can so relate to feeling dysregulated 💗 love these ideas and taking social media breaks has been really important for me too during the past few weeks
When I feel out of sorts, I play with my dog. Brings me directly to joy :-)
I pick up my senior citizen cat and just burry my face in his very furry belly and listen to the
purrs, makes me smile immediately. He definetly helps to keep me going on days that are just hard.
I also had to google oligarchy recently!
I agree with these 100%. There is something magical about getting out of your own head by giving time/love/gifts to someone else - just because. It doesn’t make any sense, but it works every time.
Thanks for the reminder. This was needed.
I teach chair yoga at Senior Retirement Homes. And a few regular classes. I am so thankful for a class to brighten my mood…( or ground me) as I do my best to uplift them. Grounding is also dropping everything but the absolute necessity - pulling in and watching a show or reading. I think when I’m totally past the edge and seriously need stillness - it’s reading. And a hot drink and something tasty daily.
Thank you for this, feeling the need to step back too & recenter. 🤍 taking time out with water/l fresh lemon or tea and reading British Harper’s Bazaar & rereading Joie by Ajiri Aki. @madamedelamaison / imagining life in Paris / inspired.
I gave "Joie" to three friends, just because they love Paris and it would be fun to get a bit of the city in their mailbox. Beautiful book.